British director Guy Ritchie achieved prominence with the low-budget action comedy Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. His second film, Snatch, expands upon this foundation, presenting a narrative centered around somewhat inept, eccentric, and often unhinged criminals operating within London’s underworld. Jason Statham, now a major film star, gained significant recognition through these two films, having previously appeared in several music videos, including a notable performance as a silver-painted figure in this Erasure video. Guy Ritchie’s directorial style was considered innovative and engaging, with dialogue often drawing comparisons to the work of Tarantino. Now, 21 years later, Snatch has been re-released in a UHD 4K Steelbook edition (the version evaluated here) and a standard UHD version with plastic casing. The sole difference between these editions is the packaging and, consequently, the price.
The narrative of Snatch revolves around the theft of an 86-carat diamond and the subsequent pursuit of this valuable gem by various factions within London’s criminal element. Turkish (Jason Statham) and his associate Tommy (Stephen Graham) become embroiled in this conflict and must navigate treacherous circumstances to ensure their survival.
Snatch exhibits skillful writing, with its frenetic pace and dynamic editing contributing to a distinctive cinematic experience. Numerous filmmakers have attempted to emulate Ritchie’s style, often with limited success. Brad Pitt delivers a memorable and unconventional performance as the largely unintelligible boxer Mickey O’Neill, while Benicio Del Toro’s portrayal of Franky Four Fingers, characterized by his subdued vocal delivery, is a particularly inspired choice. Having not viewed the film in a considerable time, it remains as compelling and relevant as it was upon its initial release two decades ago. In many respects, it surpasses Guy Ritchie’s more recent attempt to revisit this genre with the film Gentlemen, which, despite its ambition, ultimately fell short of its potential.
This review will begin with an assessment of the audio, which is presented in Dolby Atmos and provides a generally satisfying experience. Gunshots and vehicle collisions exhibit substantial impact, and dialogue clarity is maintained throughout. The overall sound balance is well-engineered, resulting in a cohesive and enjoyable auditory presentation. However, the visual quality is less impressive. While Snatch had a larger production budget than Ritchie’s debut feature, it was still constrained relative to larger productions. This is reflected in the image quality. Although Snatch is intentionally desaturated to achieve a specific aesthetic, the picture often appears soft and somewhat “gray,” even with the inclusion of modern HDR technology. Comparing the UHD version to the original DVD reveals a surprisingly minimal difference in sharpness, a disappointing outcome considering the disparity in resolution capabilities. While the film’s original capture may impose limitations on potential improvements, the transfer appears to be somewhat substandard.
The release includes a selection of supplemental materials, such as a half-hour behind-the-scenes documentary and an insightful commentary track. However, similar to the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory release, all of the included bonus content is sourced from the original DVD release from twenty years ago, with no newly produced material. This feels like a missed opportunity.
In conclusion, Snatch remains a highly entertaining action-comedy that warrants revisiting or experiencing for the first time. While the UHD presentation exhibits shortcomings in visual fidelity, the strength of the film itself, the quality of the audio, and the inclusion of supplemental material contribute to a positive overall assessment.
